Amy Grisak » The Latest

Seed saving and end of summer projects

Amy Grisak — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:06:30 +0000

I love it when my articles are published. It’s a thrill to pick up the newspaper or magazine, or click on the website, to see a piece I worked hard on (most likely late into the night since it’s the only quiet time I have) look gorgeous in a professional layout. Today Google Alerts let me know that my latest article, Vegetable Seed Saving: What you need to do for Grit is in the current issue.

This is the time of year when I desperately wish for a clone. Articles are due, but the beans don’t care. Nor do the peas, broccoli and basil. I’ve been snapping and blanching my brains out lately. So, while I’m blanching beans and blitzing pesto I’m working on ledes and content, and trying to round up interviews. No rest for the wicked, but I truly wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mid-summer (in)sanity

Amy Grisak — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:01:17 +0000

I’d really like to experience the “dog days” of summer. I thought spring was hectic, but this summer is rolling like a freight train. The produce is already starting to come on faster than I can freeze it. So far, I have peas, broccoli and spinach in the freezer, plus a crock of sauerkraut percolating on the counter. I have to decide what I’m going to take to the Montana State Fair next week. The culinary items have to be submitted on Wednesday, and the first gardening show entries are due in on Friday. Who knows what’s going to be ready. I’m very disappointed my Asiatic lilies are going to be finished by then – they’re winners for certain. This weekend we’re going to a friends’ for brunch, and I think I’ll use the opportunity to try out a new recipe on the group. What better way for unbiased opinions?

On the writing front I’m working on: hyrbrids vs. heirlooms, pressure cooking (woohoo!), financial aid for college, straw bale homes, earwigs and Habitat for Humanity. Since writing at night is my best option, it’s going to be more weeks without sleep. Oh well, I’ll sleep when I’m dead.

How can it be July already?

Amy Grisak — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:29:05 +0000

~This is absolutely crazy. Tomorrow is the first of July, and I have no idea where June went. I know I finished up planting – this included four pepper plants and two eggplants just last night – and there are always writing assignments on the horizon, but it still seems as if I blinked and it was gone.

~ Since the boys are more mobile and it’s always a good thing to keep them busy (and tired), I’m planning on venturing back into outdoor writing again. I found the best website: www.womenoutdoornews.com that has incredible information from ladies all over the country. I’m grateful that Barb Baird ran a profile of my wild antics in her My Job, My Outdoors. That was very sweet of her, and I especially like her introduction mentioning a personal assistant. Ah, that would be a dream come true!

~ As for articles, I’m preparing to do a preview on the Paris Gibson Garden Walk as well as the new tour in Sun River and Simms. I’m so excited there are two this year. It’s amazing what the local gardeners can do despite the challenging conditions. I’m also writing one on how to make vegetable packed meals, particularly for kids. The beauty of my job is I’m paid to answer questions I already have. Even though it doesn’t feel like summer has yet begun, it’s already time to start thinking of the late season garden. Ace Hardware here in Great Falls is offering great classes on how to go about it, and I’m planning on writing an article to encourage people not to give up with the first frost.

Time to finish planting and enjoy the “summer”

Amy Grisak — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:19:25 +0000

~ It’s a typical June - bask in a couple of nice, warm days followed by rain or a chance of snow. It’s a slow start to the gardens, but will be a fond memory during the likely convection oven climate in July and August! The gardens are nearly planted. Today I’m planting over 4 dozen tomato plants donated by Parkers Farm Greenhouse in Sun River to the food bank plots in the community garden. Plus, I need to scrounge a dozen or so broccoli plants to plant in my own garden since I have a little space, and figure we can always use more broccoli in the freezer.

~ I’m breaking the pattern this week, and am working on a story about annuals and hanging baskets (a challenge in this windy climate). The greatest obstacle to any articles this time of year is reaching people – last night I was on the phone until 9:30 since it was the only time we could catch each other. Other topics in the near future include a short on how to pick a water bottle; why teens are forgetful; creating veggie packed meals; planning for the late season harvest (the first frost is by no means the end of the season).

~ On a recreational front since this is the time to enjoy our gorgeous state, we’re anxious to get the kayak in the water. I’m sure Sam’s going to love it, plus I might try my hand at fishing from it. If I catch a large pike it could be pretty entertaining! We’re also hoping to hit the trails before the temps skyrocket. Plus, I’m in the market for a compound bow to try my hand at shooting carp. It’s far more challenging than shooting fish in a barrel, and has fascinated me for years. I just need to figure out how to find a bow that will fit me. It’s going to be a busy summer!

Let it rain and other gardening wishes

Amy Grisak — Tue, 25 May 2010 04:17:17 +0000

It was a cold and rainy day, and I couldn’t be happier. We desperately need the moisture to germinate the newly planted seeds… plus, it wasn’t snow. About half of my gardens are planted. The corn, beans, peppers, squash and such will go in within the next week or so. Plus, we need to put out everything for the charitable plots and organize our volunteers – it’s going to be a crazy couple of weeks.

I’m writing about gardening basics for all of the newbies out there. I talked to three fabulous home gardeners who shared their tips for growing successful veggies in our sometimes challenging climate. Plus, I have a lead on a laser fence to keep out Bambi – can’t wait to follow up on that one for a piece on pest management. Using the “Gophernator” is still high on my to-do list.

Planting is in full swing

Amy Grisak — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:28:01 +0000

The weather is finally cooperating, and the ten day forecast looks like temperatures are going to stay above freezing, so I’m planting full swing for the next week or so. Besides my gardens (I have one at one and two plots at the community gardens), I’m helping plant the charitable plots at the River City Harvest community gardens, as well as helping new gardeners start their season.

For my “Pest Patrol” blog at PlantersPlace.com I’m going to explain the life cycle and remedy of asparagus beetle and other pests on one of my favorite crops. Plus, I’m working on a story about finding balance in life juggling family and work while maintaining your sanity for What Women Want. I think it’s a hint from my editor, but I’m having a great time talking to women about their strategies.

Winter storms, saving seeds and new chickens

Amy Grisak — Fri, 07 May 2010 05:00:32 +0000

It’s been one heck of a May so far. Last Thursday we were nailed by a winter storm that dumped only ten inches of snow, but managed to pile into six foot drifts over the garden, yard and roads. We were out of power for four hours, causing me to melt snow to boil water to do the dishes and keep myself busy. Thankfully, our four hens that we brought home from our neighbor were snug in their chicken condo that Grant built. It’s so solid that the 60 mph wind gusts didn’t budge it at all. And the weather didn’t stop with a snowstorm. The past couple of nights we’re been sharing the house with 23 flats of plants occupying every horizontal surface out of the boys’ reach because the temperatures are dipping down into the mid-20′s. I just can’t risk losing everything at this stage of the game.

Assignments are keeping me busy indoors. I toured the Ace Greenhouses in Ulm last Saturday with the kids’ gardening class, and finished an article for the Great Falls Tribune. Plus, I turned in my Montana Woman food column (about what to do with excess eggs, of course) on time and wrote my PlantersPlace.com blog entry about encouraging birds in the garden to eat insects. Now I have to work on one about saving seeds. It’s not as easy as choosing the best pepper or tomato; there’s a trick to ensuring you’ll have the same variety from one year to the next. Even though it’s too cold and wet to work in the garden (and the fact that snow covers half of it), at least I can write about it!

Eating local, texting and marriage encounter

Amy Grisak — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:01:58 +0000

The beauty about my “job” is there’s never a dull moment. Although I love writing about the myriad of gardening topics, it’s fun to mix it up a bit. As far as growing goes, I’m working on a story about the benefits of local food ranging from the positive financial impact to the community as well as the relationships with the growers (if you’re not doing it yourself). I also need to pull together a piece on saving seeds. With open pollinated heirlooms gaining popularity, people need to know it’s a little more complicated than simply picking ripe fruit and drying the seeds.

On a completely different front, I’m exploring the issues that arise with texting – particularly with kids. I realize this is the norm for many people, but do you really have to check your phone every time it vibrates or lights up? And what about completely sentences, or words for that matter. Don’t even get me started with the lack of punctuation and capitalization. Plus, if there’s a texting dictionary out there, I’d truly like to have a copy. I still can’t figure out what PIOG means!

Finally, a story about a local marriage encounter is on deck. It’ll be interesting – and I’m sure motivating – to speak to couples who’ve participated in previous programs to see how it’s changed their lives.

Raising plants and kids

Amy Grisak — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:31:24 +0000

Even though the forecast is predicting 5 to 10 inches of snow by tomorrow night, gardening is in full swing. I’m behind on transplanting in the greenhouse, but have the bulk of my initial indoor sowing completeed. Even two of my grafted tomatoes are thriving. It’ll be very interesting to see if these grafted Brandywines grow better than the standard heirloom counterparts.
On the writing front, I’m working on several gardening articles including ones on growing potatoes, composting, and the local food movement in Montana. The wind this week also inspired me to focus on mitigating it’s damaging effects, and sharing them with readers. Compost I used is probably in another county by now after the gusts scoured a couple of beds down to gravel. It’s maddening!
I’m also working on a couple of articles about raising kids, including one on the reasons teenagers are often “airheads.” There’s a physiological reason with brain development to at least gives parents hope that their kids will grow out of it. I just need a parent who’s willing to share stories of their forgetful kids, and how they deal with it. If you have one drop me a note!

Spring is here – let the gardening begin!

Amy Grisak — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:28:34 +0000

Spring came in like a lamb, and seems to follow the same path into April. This is just fine with me! I’m working on an article about season extending techniques so I set up a couple of Wall-O-Waters in the garden to warm up the soil before planting peas. The tomatoes won’t go out until at least the middle of April (only because the plants won’t be large enough), but I’m anxious to get something growing outside.

I’m also writing a column on gardening trends. In 2009 there were more than 7 million new gardeners working the soil in the U.S., and the numbers continue to increase. People seem to want to get their hands dirty partly because of the economy, and partly because they’re becoming more aware of food choices. Whatever the motivation, it is undoubtedly a positive lifestyle change.